Yes and no. If you expanded a smaller drive to a 2TB drive using the current software available then no. Supposedly from one of the vendors of tivo aftermarket items has an ability to do a 2TB internal plus a 2TB external drive but it has to be done at time of purchase. If you have a native 2TB XL4 you can currently add a 1TB WD expander.

__________________
"Delay is preferable to error" - Thomas Jefferson
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Sir Isaac Newton

I installed an internal 2TB expansion drive, currently at 82% full. Is there a > 2TB solution out there internal or external?

Thanks.

Allow me to suggest that you copy some of those shows to a PC (the ones your cable company hasn't set the anti-copy bit on) and then copy them back when you're actually ready to watch them.

If you have more than one TiVo in the house, this will also allow sharing with much less loss of meta-data (like the date the show was recorded originally, as opposed to the date it got copied TiVo to TiVo, as well as some of the stuff that comes up when you hit the Info button).

Hooking an extra drive straight to the TiVo means that if either the internal or external develops problems you lose the shows on both drives.

I'm planning to upgrade a TiVoHD(652160) again, this time using a WD AV-GP WD20EURS. I originally upgraded from the OEM 160GB drive to a 1.0TB drive but since the 2.0TB drive prices have come down lately, I figured I can always use more room, right? What I'd like to know is if I can just use the WinMFS program to copy the settings and recordings using Mfscopy from the 1TB to the 2TB, then expand and finally supersize. If so, there is a part of the instructions that doesn't make sense to me and they are these 2 steps:

13. If you have not done so already, select File -> Select Drive and set the original TiVo drive as Drive A. Do not select anything for B.

Why would I set both the original drive AND the new drive as both drive A?

Once I get past this part, I know what to do as far as expand (going to use 1028mb swap) and then Supersize. Since this is a WD AV-GP drive, I shouldn't have to run wdidle3, correct?

I may be overcautious with this but I've never tried to expand an "expanded" drive before and I usually don't try to preserve the recordings but I have alot of them and it would take quite awhile to offload them to a PC or another TiVo.

I'm planning to upgrade a TiVoHD(652160) again, this time using a WD AV-GP WD20EURS. I originally upgraded from the OEM 160GB drive to a 1.0TB drive but since the 2.0TB drive prices have come down lately, I figured I can always use more room, right? What I'd like to know is if I can just use the WinMFS program to copy the settings and recordings using Mfscopy from the 1TB to the 2TB, then expand and finally supersize. If so, there is a part of the instructions that doesn't make sense to me and they are these 2 steps:

13. If you have not done so already, select File -> Select Drive and set the original TiVo drive as Drive A. Do not select anything for B.

Why would I set both the original drive AND the new drive as both drive A?

Once I get past this part, I know what to do as far as expand (going to use 1028mb swap) and then Supersize. Since this is a WD AV-GP drive, I shouldn't have to run wdidle3, correct?

I may be overcautious with this but I've never tried to expand an "expanded" drive before and I usually don't try to preserve the recordings but I have alot of them and it would take quite awhile to offload them to a PC or another TiVo.

Thanks for your help.

The TiVo in some ways is closer to the Apple and other non-IBM/DOS/Windows type computers than it is to the standard PC that runs Windows these days on an Intel or AMD processor.

The Series 1 and Series 2 TiVos used PATA/IDE drives and controllers--the kind with the 40 pin connector and the corduroy-looking ribbon cable.

Each controller can handle 2 drives on one 40 pin ribbon cable, the first of which in PCs is called the master and the second of which is called the slave.

An alternative way of referring to them (iwhen not talking about PC/IBM-compatible/DOS/Windows type situations where one or two floppy drives would be drives A: and B: and the first bootable partition on the Master drive on the primary IDE controller would be drive C is the A drive and the B drive.

Since WinMFS handles S1s through S3s, it reflects that terminology.

There were even some S1s that came with two internal drives from the factory, and many S1s and S2s that had them added later.

So, if you were copying a 2 drive setup, you'd have to select the A drive and the B drive. Those would be the source.

Then you'd select the target drives, the first of which would be the destination A and the second of which would be the destination B.

Destination = Target.

In an S3 copying situation, there's only one internal drive, so there's never a B drive.

So you select the A drive, which is the source drive, whatever internal drive you just pulled out of the TiVo and want to copy.

Then you select the Destination (or target) A drive, which will be the new A drive once you put it in the TiVo.

So just make sure you pick the 1TB when you first click "Select Drive", before you tell it to do anything else, and then when you click mfscopy, select the 2TB when it asks for the destination drive.

Then wait a long time. It may look like it's frozen, but it's not.

Then, when it finally finishes, test it in the TiVo.

Then hook it (but not the 1TB) back to the PC and run WinMFS and and after selecting it, click on mfsadd to use the extra 1TB on the 2TB.

But make sure you've got version 11.0k of the TiVo software on the 1TB before doing the copy.

Running wdidle3 won't hurt anything and you can do it right after you've run WD's own diagnostic software long test on that 2TB before you put it into service.

There's very, very little chance that there's anything wrong with it, but now is the time to make sure, because it's not impossible.

Forgive the noobness, but I thought you couldn't go straight to a 2TB on an S3 using WinMFS. I thought you had to use JMFS to get the 2TB. If this is old info, can I go straight from the 160GB to a 2TB using WinMFS alone?

Forgive the noobness, but I thought you couldn't go straight to a 2TB on an S3 using WinMFS. I thought you had to use JMFS to get the 2TB. If this is old info, can I go straight from the 160GB to a 2TB using WinMFS alone?

Forgive the noobness, but I thought you couldn't go straight to a 2TB on an S3 using WinMFS. I thought you had to use JMFS to get the 2TB. If this is old info, can I go straight from the 160GB to a 2TB using WinMFS alone?

It is only in the past few months that it has been discovered (which is to say that I sort of blundered onto it with the kind assistance of other readers) that 11.0k will let any of the S3 platform TiVos use up to a 2TB drive and partitions greater than 1TB (or 1.2, depending on how you do the math).

It is only in the past few months that it has been discovered (which is to say that I sort of blundered onto it with the kind assistance of other readers) that 11.0k will let any of the S3 platform TiVos use up to a 2TB drive and partitions greater than 1TB (or 1.2, depending on how you do the math).

Thank you both! Was planning on upgrading next week, you just saved me the trouble and expense of doing it the old way.

Thank you both! Was planning on upgrading next week, you just saved me the trouble and expense of doing it the old way.

I'm not sure what extra expense (if we're talking money) would have been involved, but you should run the manufacturer's diagnostics' long test on that 2TB before doing anything else with it, just to be on the safe side.

I'm not sure what extra expense (if we're talking money) would have been involved, but you should run the manufacturer's diagnostics' long test on that 2TB before doing anything else with it, just to be on the safe side.

Thought I had to buy an intermediate 1TB drive then JMFS to 2TB. I will take your advice and run extended diags on the new drive.

The TiVo in some ways is closer to the Apple and other non-IBM/DOS/Windows type computers than it is to the standard PC that runs Windows these days on an Intel or AMD processor.

The Series 1 and Series 2 TiVos used PATA/IDE drives and controllers--the kind with the 40 pin connector and the corduroy-looking ribbon cable.

Each controller can handle 2 drives on one 40 pin ribbon cable, the first of which in PCs is called the master and the second of which is called the slave.

An alternative way of referring to them (iwhen not talking about PC/IBM-compatible/DOS/Windows type situations where one or two floppy drives would be drives A: and B: and the first bootable partition on the Master drive on the primary IDE controller would be drive C is the A drive and the B drive.

Since WinMFS handles S1s through S3s, it reflects that terminology.

There were even some S1s that came with two internal drives from the factory, and many S1s and S2s that had them added later.

So, if you were copying a 2 drive setup, you'd have to select the A drive and the B drive. Those would be the source.

Then you'd select the target drives, the first of which would be the destination A and the second of which would be the destination B.

Destination = Target.

In an S3 copying situation, there's only one internal drive, so there's never a B drive.

So you select the A drive, which is the source drive, whatever internal drive you just pulled out of the TiVo and want to copy.

Then you select the Destination (or target) A drive, which will be the new A drive once you put it in the TiVo.

So just make sure you pick the 1TB when you first click "Select Drive", before you tell it to do anything else, and then when you click mfscopy, select the 2TB when it asks for the destination drive.

Then wait a long time. It may look like it's frozen, but it's not.

Then, when it finally finishes, test it in the TiVo.

Then hook it (but not the 1TB) back to the PC and run WinMFS and and after selecting it, click on mfsadd to use the extra 1TB on the 2TB.

But make sure you've got version 11.0k of the TiVo software on the 1TB before doing the copy.

Running wdidle3 won't hurt anything and you can do it right after you've run WD's own diagnostic software long test on that 2TB before you put it into service.

There's very, very little chance that there's anything wrong with it, but now is the time to make sure, because it's not impossible.

If I am going to copy the programs over using MfsCopy, is that the step where I would change the swap size to 1028MB or can it be done at a later step?

I just went through this process with upgrading a TiVo HDXL from a 1.0GB to a 1.5GB and I think I forgot to change the swap size from the default 128MB to something larger. Am I hosed?

I recently saw a TiVo S3HD on eBay - I suspected it wasn't working (because the seller said he 'couldn't test it' and that he had no idea if it was on a service plan). The ad included a photo of the back of the unit & the service ID# and a quick call to TiVo confirmed that the unit had a lifetime service plan. I was able to buy the box for $132.50 & shipping.

Upon arrival and hook-up it was clear something wasn't working - the guided set-up couldn't get past one of the set-up screens - the progress spinner just kept spinning on 'preparing'. Called TiVo (waste of time) and the cust serv rep told me 'it can take up to 24 hours'... so I let sit for a day. Called again and another rep told me to do the set up without a source/antenna plugged in (waste of time)... called a third time and another rep wanted me to replace ethernet cables, bypass my Ethernet switch, etc. (waste of time). Bigger waste of time: he told me he thought the NIC was bad (absurd) and that he could exchange the S3 for $99 and sell me a new lifetime subscription for an additional $199. (thanks - but no thanks).

A visit to this forum led me to the kickstart codes - which allowed me to confirm in less than 5 minutes that indeed it was the hard drive that was bad.

Then I read about 'approved drives' for replacement/upgrade and discovered that the WD 1TB external drive that I had from use with my Time Warner dvr was on the list.. so I pulled that from the external box...

Then I read more about how and where to download a truncated image for the S3 - and read more about how and where to download and use winMFS.

Opened up my desktop computer, pulled the SATA & power cable from the optical drive, hooked them up to the bare WD, ran winMFS (as administrator on my Windows 7 PC) - pointed it to the new drive and the image file...

And I now have a 1TB S3HD added to my network.

There's no way I could have done all of that - especially so quickly - without the terrific contributions from the people in this community and this forum.

Truncated S3 image file "648250b.tbk":
dl[dot]dropbox[dot]com/u/49887720/648250b[dot]tbk
this is a 'clean' image with no TiVo Service ID# - after installing your newly imaged hard drive you must go to Tivo Settings and select "CLEAR AND DELETE EVERYTHING" so your TiVo will write it's TSID# to the hard drive.

NOTES for novices hesitating to do this upgrade:

1) Using winMFS you are not limited to replacing your dead HD with one of the same size.

2) When executing winMFS, don't just double click on it (it won't work) - RIGHT CLICK and select 'RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR'.

3) If you are using a truncated ISO file that you downloaded (ie: not made from the TiVo you are upgrading/repairing) then as soon as you boot the repaired TiVo you MUST go to settings and do a 'CLEAR and DELETE EVERYTHING' (at least on the S3) - otherwise your TiVo service number will not be written to the drive (and won't appear in your system info screen) and this will prevent you form being able to record anything - and throw error code #51.

I am about to upgrade my TiVoHD(652160) using a WD AV-GP WD20EURS drive. I have two questions.
1. Is it better to use WinMFS or JMFS?
2. Do you still need to set jumpers 7 and 8 on the Eurs drive, to accomodate its Advanced Format feature, even though I have the latest version of the Tivo OS (11.0)?
(I bought the Tivo from "tivo-pro" on ebay 4 years ago. He had cutom upgraded it to a (single) Hitachi 1tb drive.)
Thanks.

Any idea what would cause an S3 (TCD648250B) to boot from the stock 250GB drive but get stuck on the Powering Up screen whenever I try to boot from a new WD drive? I've tried 500GB and 1TB drives, tried with WinMFS with truncated copies from the same TiVo and another S3, restored from an old instantcake copy, etc. Nothing works except the stock drive.

Any idea what would cause an S3 (TCD648250B) to boot from the stock 250GB drive but get stuck on the Powering Up screen whenever I try to boot from a new WD drive? I've tried 500GB and 1TB drives, tried with WinMFS with truncated copies from the same TiVo and another S3, restored from an old instantcake copy, etc. Nothing works except the stock drive.

Would not hurt to check the wdidle3 setting. Other things to check are the capacitors on the hard drive, run the manufacturer diagnostic on the drive, and re image the drive. Try DvrBARS to backup the working drive and restore to the other drive.

__________________
"Delay is preferable to error" - Thomas Jefferson
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Sir Isaac Newton

I have done this upgrade on the old replaytv's and didn't have this many issues with it. I know I am getting older and it is probably my skill set diminishing, but I cannot get this damn thing to work! Ugh...

1. Add the drive
2. Open WinMFS under admin rights
3. select the drive in Win MFS
4. I back up the drive using the WinMFS.
5. remove the drive
6. add the new drive
7. open WinMFS under admin rights.
8. Restore the image to the wd20eurs drive
9. click yes to the prompt for the 1tb warning
10. supersize the drive.
11. add the new drive to the tivo.
12. turn it on (and pray) :>)
13. it keeps getting stuck on the powering up screen.

I tried the other utility folks have mentioned, DvrBARS, but had no luck with that one either.

I put the old drive back in the tivo and it works, so it is not a capacitor issue, none have popped (I have seen them pop before on a computer).

Please help? I have 3 of these HD tivos and 3 of the drives and have spent the last week fighting with them.

Does anyone have an image I could just copy to the drives and skip all of the other steps?

What model HDs do you have. In the mean time after expand and supersize with WinMFS, try fixboot. The last person I worked with on this issue have a problem with block0 being incomplete preventing the Tivo from booting up completely. If fixboot doesn't work then we can manually fix block 0

__________________
"Delay is preferable to error" - Thomas Jefferson
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Sir Isaac Newton

I have done this upgrade on the old replaytv's and didn't have this many issues with it. I know I am getting older and it is probably my skill set diminishing, but I cannot get this damn thing to work! Ugh...

1. Add the drive
2. Open WinMFS under admin rights
3. select the drive in Win MFS
4. I back up the drive using the WinMFS.
5. remove the drive
6. add the new drive
7. open WinMFS under admin rights.
8. Restore the image to the wd20eurs drive
9. click yes to the prompt for the 1tb warning
10. supersize the drive.
11. add the new drive to the tivo.
12. turn it on (and pray) :>)
13. it keeps getting stuck on the powering up screen.

I tried the other utility folks have mentioned, DvrBARS, but had no luck with that one either.

I put the old drive back in the tivo and it works, so it is not a capacitor issue, none have popped (I have seen them pop before on a computer).

Please help? I have 3 of these HD tivos and 3 of the drives and have spent the last week fighting with them.

Does anyone have an image I could just copy to the drives and skip all of the other steps?

You may need to run wdilde3.exe /D. To do it, you would need to boot up to an environment other than windows, like DOS.

Any idea what would cause an S3 (TCD648250B) to boot from the stock 250GB drive but get stuck on the Powering Up screen whenever I try to boot from a new WD drive? I've tried 500GB and 1TB drives, tried with WinMFS with truncated copies from the same TiVo and another S3, restored from an old instantcake copy, etc. Nothing works except the stock drive.

What are you using to copy the drive and are you doing a straight copy or expand and supersize as well. Have you tried booting up the new drive right after copying it before anything else was done.

__________________
"Delay is preferable to error" - Thomas Jefferson
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Sir Isaac Newton

I upgraded to a 2TB from an original 160GB drive. The 2TB was a WD20EZRX, but should not matter. What I did was run WDIDLE3 /D anyway from a bootable CD. Make sure no other HDD's are connected, and I disabled without an issue. I do not know how you connect the 2TB drive, but I used WIN XP and connected both the 160GB and the 2 TB to the Motherboard. Is the source drive at the latest software 11.0k as that is required for a 2 TB drive.